1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Ellsworth County is $708 a month against a median household income of $65,560, about 13% of income (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Ellsworth County offer.
On this page
- Ellsworth County, KS: the basics
- Labor force snapshot: Ellsworth County
- Ellsworth County housing compared with Kansas
- How much Ellsworth County households make
- Ellsworth County against other Kansas counties
- Ellsworth County next to its neighbors
- Ellsworth County towns compared
- What the numbers mean for Ellsworth County borrowers
- $5,463 a month: the Ellsworth County median budget
- Ellsworth County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Ellsworth County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Ellsworth County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Ellsworth County, KS: the basics
With an estimated 6,360 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ellsworth County ranks 55th of 105 in Kansas for population. Its 716 square miles average 9 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Ellsworth County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Ellsworth, about 3,108 residents (49% of Ellsworth County); 5 Census places in all. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Ellsworth County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Labor force snapshot: Ellsworth County
The biggest employer of Ellsworth County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Ellsworth County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 10% versus 3% in Kansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Ellsworth County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 3.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ellsworth County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | -0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.0% | +6.9 pts |
| Public administration | 9.5% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Ellsworth County housing compared with Kansas
A typical Ellsworth County rental runs $708 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Kansas. About 5 in 10 Ellsworth County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Ellsworth County homes are worth $114,900 at the median, a 1.8-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Home costs | Ellsworth County | Kansas | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 80% | 67% | +13.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | +12.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 43% | +6.6 pts |
| Median home value | $114,900 | $217,200 | 47% lower |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% | 4.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $708/mo | $1,060/mo | 33% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | -0.2 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Ellsworth County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much Ellsworth County households make
At $65,560, the typical Ellsworth County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Ellsworth County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -4.2 pts |
Six-figure households (29%) outnumber those under $35,000 (24%) in Ellsworth County. Poverty rate, Ellsworth County: 10.4%; Kansas: 11.3%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Ellsworth County median.
Ellsworth County against other Kansas counties
Ranked against the other 104 county-level areas in Kansas, these are the Ellsworth County figures furthest from the middle.
- Ellsworth County ranks the lowest of 105 Kansas counties for the uninsured rate: 3.7%, against 8.8% statewide. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Ellsworth County sits near the top of Kansas at 50%, 11th highest of 105. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 15% in Ellsworth County. Only 15 of 105 Kansas counties are higher. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
Ellsworth County next to its neighbors
Lincoln County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, McPherson County, is 37 miles off. Income ranges from $57,500 in Lincoln County to $78,851 in McPherson County; 1 of these neighbors top Ellsworth County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth County | - | $65,560 | $708/mo | 80% |
| Lincoln County, KS | 24 mi | $57,500 | $634/mo | 80% |
| Rice County, KS | 24 mi | $63,925 | $753/mo | 77% |
| Saline County, KS | 31 mi | $65,422 | $961/mo | 67% |
| Russell County, KS | 34 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Barton County, KS | 34 mi | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
| McPherson County, KS | 37 mi | $78,851 | $916/mo | 75% |
Ellsworth County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Ellsworth County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 5,007 residents, leaving about 21% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Ellsworth ($66,821) and Kanopolis ($54,688) mark the top and bottom of Ellsworth County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Ellsworth ($681) and steepest in Kanopolis ($850). None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth | city | 3,108 | $66,821 | $681 | 3 mi |
| Wilson | city | 833 | $59,145 | $739 | 17 mi |
| Kanopolis | city | 552 | $54,688 | $850 | 3 mi |
| Holyrood | city | 377 | $51,875 | $691 | 14 mi |
| Lorraine | city | 137 | $46,875 | n/a | 11 mi |
What the numbers mean for Ellsworth County borrowers
Based on the Ellsworth County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
$5,463 a month: the Ellsworth County median budget
How much room does a median Ellsworth County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,463 before taxes
- Median rent: $708, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,259 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Ellsworth County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Ellsworth County: 3.7%; Kansas: 8.8%.
| People and households | Ellsworth County | Compared with Kansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | +6.1 yrs | +2.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.7% | -12.9 pts | +0.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | -2.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | -5.1 pts | -4.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | -2.1 pts | -2.4 pts |
| Work from home | 7.4% | -4.4 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | -0.9 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | -1.3 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Ellsworth County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
A Ellsworth County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Ellsworth County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Ellsworth County
Consumer lenders serving Ellsworth County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Keep exploring
No city in Ellsworth County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $65,560 a good income in Ellsworth County?
It is the county median, so half of Ellsworth County households earn more and half less; 29% earn $100,000 or more.
Can a Ellsworth County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $708 median rent and $5,463 median monthly income, rent alone uses 13%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Ellsworth County owners borrow against a $114,900 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Ellsworth. Which guide is mine?
This one. Ellsworth and the rest of Ellsworth County have no separate city guide.
Will a Ellsworth County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.